Javed Jabbar Vs. Pervez Hoodbhoy: Round 7 – Two-Nation-Theory

Mr. Hoodbhoy says that two-nation theory went into Bay of Bengal in 1971, but Mr. Jabbar insists that tow-nation theory is ‘beautifully alive and well, and that ‘Muslim Bangladeshi nationalism is the foundation of Bangladesh and today it remains proudly Muslim, predominantly Muslim Bangladesh. His argument is contrary to the fact that even the official name of the country has been changed replacing ‘Islamic Republic’ with ‘People’s Republic’ of Bangladesh.

By Anjum Altaf

Pervez Hoodbhoy: In 1971, the Two-Nation-Theory went into the Bay of Bengal.

Javed Jabbar: After breaking away from the state of Pakistan, did Bangladesh go back into West Bengal? Did it say now we want to re-merge with India because religion is no longer the basis for our existence? Today, Bangladesh remains proudly Muslim, predominantly Muslim Bangladesh. Muslim Bangladeshi nationalism is the foundation of Bangladesh. The Two- Nation-Theory today is beautifully alive and well.

Analysis

This argument rests on what one considers the Two-Nation-Theory to be. If it is taken to mean, as originally propounded, that Muslims and Hindus are separate nations then the theory cannot be argued to have gone into the Bay of Bengal in 1971. For the people who believe that Muslims and Hindus are separate nations, nothing has changed. In their interpretation, Hindus conspired to break a Muslim nation into two. 

It is the unstated extension of the Two-Nation-Theory that needs to be the focus of attention. If this extension is taken to suggest that because Muslims are a separate nation that was enough to warrant a separate country for them or sufficient to sustain one, then the second part of this extension certainly went into the Bay of Bengal in 1971. But this is an unwarranted extension. There are many countries, like Pakistan, comprised of groups who consider themselves distinct nations but that is not automatically taken to mean that each nation should have a separate country even if it wants one. In fact, the various nations are being continually advised to live together amicably and assured that their grievances would be addressed over time. As for the sustainability part, Muslims have been fighting each other since almost the very birth of the religion. 

The central contention of the Two-Nation-Theory remains to be addressed. Are Hindus and Muslims separate nations? The answer to this question is independent of whether Hindus and Muslims love or hate each other or whether Muslims can live together or not.

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(This is part of the series of articles, a detailed analysis of former Minister and Senator Javed Jabbar’s video he had released in response to a speech of Prof. Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy at a literary festival in Karachi. The Preamble of the analysis can be read by clicking here. For rest of the rounds, click here.)

Source: Sindh Courier

The writer has PhD from Stanford University. He was a Dean at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and Provost at Habib University in Karachi.